Adjustable stilt



Patented Feb. 2, 192.6.

.UNITED STATS 1,511,919 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN A. BOARDMAN, OF HOQUIAM, 'WASHINGTON, ASSIG-NOR 'I0 JAMES F. OBRIEN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ADJUSTABLE STILI'.

Application filed January 28, 1925.v Serial No. 5,334.'

To aZZ whom 't may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. BOARDMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoquiam, in the county of Grays Harbor and State of lilashington, have invented certain new and usefulV Improvements in Adjustable Stilts, of which the `'following is a specification.

My invention relates to stilts and the main object 01 the invention is to lfurnish a device whereby the height of thefoot rest may be adjusted'from the ground into anydesired position along the stilt pole.

For this purpose the toot rest is detachable from the pole and has a cleat adapted to engage around the same to obtain a firm grip thereon when pressure exerted upon the top of the toot rest while it the latter is raise-d or tilted upwards the grip is released and the foot rest may be' shifted along the pole. Y c

In the accompanying drawing, one einbodiment of the invent-ion has been` illus# trated, and

2 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the stilt complete `Figure 2 is a side elevation and partial section inlargeu scale .of a portion of the stilt; and i Figure 3 is aftransverse section alongline 3 3 ot' Figure 2.

In the drawing,

reference numeral represents the stilt pole which is shown per- .tectly straight and preferably rectangular in cross section as best seen in Figure 3.

The toot rest is made ot a block oli wood 11 with a hollowed out or concave top surface 12 and a convex bottom surface 13 running out to a point 14. so that the contour ot the toot rest has the appearance orp a horn.

The inner end ot' the foot rest is coniparatively heavy and yhas an intermediate clutching rib or ridge 15 adapted to make contact with the adjacent side ot the stilt pole 10, the surface diverging upwardly and downwardly from said ridge At the inner end on the upper side of the iioot rest is secured, by a screw or rivet 16, 0 a strap 9, intended to be laid over the top of the foot ot the user and attached to a button 17 near the point 14,011 the outer1 side of the said rest. Y

A U-shaped cleat 1S is `secured by means ot rivets 2@ or the like on both sides of ,the foot rest and its transverse portion 19 is spaced some distance romthe end portion 15 of the toot rest. The upper edge of the transverse portion 19 of the cleat is preterably turned inward and serrated or formed .with teeth, as indicated at 21 in Figure 3. The cleat 18 is slightly inclined upwardly, relative 'to the toot rest, so that, when pressure is exerted upon the concave upper side 12 of the foot rest by a person standing' on the latter, the ridge 15 contacts with the adjacent side of the stilt pole 10 while the end surface of the rest above and below the ridgestands away therefrom. The serrations orteeth 21 are thus cans-ed to grip tightly on the. opposite side of the stilt pole and will' dig 1nto 'the same to a certain degree, the, pole being thus clutched' by and .between the teeth and the ridge. In order to' hold the rest in place, when the stilt is not in use', a spring 22, which may be either a plate or a light rod, has one end driven into thev rest, as at 23, while its upper end will constantly press against thel adjacent surface of the stilt pole 10 rabove the cleat 18.

By rolling the foot rest 11 upwardly on its ridge 15 against the pressure of the spring 22, the teeth or serrations 21 will disengage ythe opposite side of the stilt pole so that the foot rest is :tree to slide up or down along the latter. yWhen a suitable height Vhas been found for the foot'rest, the latter is permitted to roll'downwardly on its ridge 15 actuated by its weight as well as by the spring 22. The teeth 2l will at the same time obtain a firm gripy on the opposite side or the stilt pole so that, when a person puts his foot on the toot lrest 11, the grip will 'be further increased and the foot rest pre-l vented from sliding down the stilt pole 10.

Instead of providing teeth directly on the upper edge of the cleat 18 a separate piece ot' metal may be secured on the inner side ot the transverse portion 19 thereof, said piece being furnish-ed with suitable teeth or roughened to obtain a goed hold on the surface of the stilt pole.

It will be evident that the ootrest or stirrup may be varied in shape and made from different kinds of material. As sho-wn in the drawing, the :toot rest consists of a block of solid wood but it may also be made from wire or band iron. Instead of the leaf springr 22 shown in the drawing, a coil springer press button may be employed. The strap .9 when tightened over the teeth Qt will be released :ind the. tootrest drawn up to the desired height. By thereupon standing on the raised Ytoot rest and lifting hie tiret toot, the neer may be :ble to raise the tootI rest on the other stilt pole to the Same height as the tiret one. 'lfhis may be done gradually so that itj tor instance, he desires to reise the stirrups or :toot rests six inehes he may Shift them one int-h et a time.

ThiS invention is appli "nble noty only to stilts but also to erutehes :1nd painteris Seat- :told or the like where adjustment ot the Supportinroimember is desired.

Having thus described t-ho invention, I Claim:

l. t Stilt Comprising a pole, a ioot restl extending `from said pole and having its inner pole-engaging end `toi-med with upper and lower inclined tar-es converging' towards the pole and intereeetini;l to provide a tulernm adapted to engage the pole, und means 'tor adjustably Securing Said l'oot rest on the pole, Said menne inehidiug a voke rigidly united with the toot rest and extend ine' around said pole and haring :i portion disposed substantially parallel to the upper inelined itziee with its upper edge adapted to engage the pole at a point above the plane ol" said Ytulerum ior biting' engagement with the pole when the toot rentii swung downwardlv. and reeilient moana carried `by laid 4toot rest and engaging eaid pole to roving' thel loot reet downwardly.

A Stili comprising a pole, :i 'toot rest extending trom said pole and having' its iuner end formed with upper and lower inelined .tures converging towards the pole to provide a tulerum intermediate its depth and adapted to eontaet willi the adjacent side ot' the pole and permit vertical tilting ot the foot rest, and ineens for udjustnbly securing Said toot rest on the pole, said meansincluding a yoke termed from n tlat strap extending about the pole and hnving arms extending' upon opposite sides ot the 'toot reet and Seeured to the sides thereof intermediate its depth, the portion ot the yoke at the opposite Side ot the pole from the toot rest having its upper edge portion provided with a serrated tlange entr-inding towards the pole and adapted to be drawn into biting engagement with the side ot the pole above the plane ot Said :tulerum when the :toot rest i5 swung' downwzirdly.

3. A etilt ef)ii11i1'is5i1u i,` :i pole, a 'toot rest having an nreuete surlnee adopted to eoninet with the adjacent side ot seid pole, means tor ndjuetebly seenring seid tootrest on the pole, Said means including n gripping member united with said toot reet and reaching around Seid pole and zr serrated edge on said member adapted to be pressed against the opposite side oit' said pole, and a spring inserted between seid arcuate surface ot' said member and the side ot' the pole.

et. A stilt Comprising a polea :toot rest haring an arcuate surtaee adapted to eontaet with the adjacent Side o-i Said pole, menus tor adjustably securing the toot. reet, on the pole, n liftingl strap on Seid foot resti, said means inoh'idiuggl a `erilipine' member united with said t'oot rest and rear-bine' around Said pole nud a Serrated edge on Said member adapted to be preesed against. the opposite side ol.' the pole, and a .@plfinygl ineerted between Said areuatr-i surtaee ovl Suid member :ind the Side ot the pole.

ln' teetimony whereof l; allix` my signature.

EDlVlN A. BOARDMAN. [n 

